Ranger loss hits Morpeth

Morpeth Harriers failed by just under a minute to lift the bronze medals for the second year in a row after over four hours running in the National 12-Stage Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield.

Morpeth Harriers failed by just under a minute to lift the bronze medals for the second year in a row after over four hours running in the National 12-Stage Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield.

And with arguably their best short stage performer, Tom Ranger, pulling out on the eve of the race through injury, it proved to be a bitter blow to the Northumbrian squad despite a battling performance from his replacement, Gerard Sharp.

Michael Morris opened Morpeth's attack by finishing in 12th place on the opening long stage which was won by former Chester-le-Street athlete Michael Openshaw, now running for Birchfield.

Ivan Hollingsworth improved to ninth on stage two with Steve Platts moving up one place on stage three.

Richard Kay continued the forward move by another place on leg four before handing over to Terry Wall who cut into the leaders' advantage to pass over to Andrew Toward in fourth.

London-based Toward, despite running Morpeth's fastest short stage run of the day, had to be content with fourth position and that's the way it stayed throughout the second-half of a hard-fought championship.

At this point last year's winners, Belgrave looked to be well on their way to another victory thanks to a superb run by former Elswick Harrier David Anderson. Birchfield were lying in second only to lose out to Tipton on the 10th stage for the silver medals and though Morpeth still had some of their big guns to follow they never got in a realistic challenge and in the end the loss of Ranger, who was the fastest in the Northern Championships, proved crucial as far as the medals were concerned.

Ian Hudspith, despite being Morpeth's best long-stage performer, couldn't claw back the deficit enough on stage seven and it was the same for Sharp, Mark Hudspith, Rob Holladay, Mark Brown and David Swinburne on the final five stages. In the end it was so close but not close enough.

However, there is no doubt Morpeth, who have never won the event, will be back challenging next year determined to make up for their disappointment.